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Southern California, USA - Southern California DuckShop™
One opening due to cancellations - Please contact Erin Masters (erin@naturescapes.net) for late registration discount!
Join NatureScape's Technical Editor and widely acclaimed professional nature photographer, E.J. Peiker, for this exclusive Southern California DuckShop!™ This 5-day DuckShop™ will put you right where you need to be to walk away with breathtaking images of an array of ducks, waders and other species at some of the best hot spots in the US!
Visiting locations such as Santee Lakes, La Jolla Shores, the famous Bolsa Chica Preserve, San Joaquin Sanctuary and Upper Newport Bay we are likely to see species such as Brown Pelican, White Pelican, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Northern Shoveler, Surf Scoter, Wood Duck, American Avocet, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Black Turnstone, and many more!
E.J. knows each of the locations intimately and has scheduled this exclusive workshop for the optimum tide conditions and the best chances for creating dramatic images. His vast technical knowledge and willingness to share it is invaluable.
Recommended Equipment: 35mm SLR or Digital SLR, 500mm or 600mm lens plus teleconverters, flash and a tripod or ground pod that can get low to the ground. Note that a 500mm or 600mm with teleconverters is strongly recommended for this workshop.
Itinerary:
Day 1: (Feb 10)
Participants should plan to arrive by 7:00 p.m. on the first day of the workshop. An evening presentation and discussion will cover topics such as lens technique, exposure, lighting, composition, and introduce likely species we will photograph.
Day 2: (Feb 11)
We will meet in the lobby at the Residence Inn, La Jolla and carpool to our first location, Santee Lakes. Santee Lakes is abundant with photographic opportunities - here we are likely to see Wood Duck, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, White Pelican, and the possibility of many other species.
In the afternoon, we'll reconvene at La Jolla Shores where we'll have the opportunity to photograph a number of shorebirds including Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Black Turnstone, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Heerman's Gull
Day 3: (Feb 12)
We'll start off at La Jolla this morning and take advantage of brown pelicans in beautiful breeding plumage in flight, perching and preening. We may also have chances at photographing Double-crested Cormorant, Heerman's Gull in flight as well as seals sunning themselves on the rocks below the cliffs.
We'll finish up the day back at Santee Lakes for more Wood Ducks and other species of waterfowl.
Day 4: (Feb 13)
Today we find ourselves at La Jolla Cliffs for brown pelicans. After shooting, we'll head back to the hotel to check out and make our way to Bolsa Chica Preserve where we'll spend the evening shooting a large variety of birds highlighted by Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Western Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Tern and much more.
Day 5: (Feb 14)
We'll meet at Bolsa Chica Preserve to continue to take advantage of the many opportunities. In the morning, Bolsa Chica is great for a variety of shorebirds including Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwitt, Western Sandpiper and waterfowl such as Surf Scoter. Peregrine Falcon and Northern Harrier can also often be photographed in the mornings.
The afternoon shoot will take place at San Joaquin Sanctuary. San Joaquin is a large bird sanctuary in Irvine, CA that offers a large variety of wild birds in a huge, lush area. American Kestral can often be photographed here as well as Black Phoebe. Black-necked Stilt, White Pelican, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal and Blue-winged Teal are possible.
Day 6: (Feb 15)
Our last morning together will find us at Upper Newport Bay where we'll find all three species of Teal, Marbled Godwit, Black Skimmer and much more.
Depart for home in the afternoon.
Possible Species Include:
Brown Pelican, White Pelican, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Northern Shoveler, Surf Scoter, Wood Duck, American Avocet, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Black Turnstone, Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Willet, Black-necked Stilt, Black Skimmer, Black-bellied Plover, American Kestrel, Black Phoebe, House Finch, Bonaparte's Gull, Western Gull, Heerman's Gull, Double-crested Cormorant,Common Tern, Eared Grebe, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Western Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, and many more possible!
Important Note:
This workshop should only be taken by healthy, physically fit individuals that have the ability to walk 2 to 4 miles per day with their equipment in temperatures ranging from 45 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.. In order to get some species, some moderate physical exertion may be necessary at times.
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| Workshop Dates | Cost | Deposit | Participants |
| Feb. 10-15, 2012 | $1,495 | $500 | 8 - 1 spot left! |
Hotel Information:
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La Jolla/Santee Lakes Hotel Phone: (858) 587-1770 |
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Orange County Hotel Phone: (949) 854-4500 |
Airport Information:
The most convenient for arrival is San Diego (SAN) and the most convenient for departure is John Wayne Orange County (SNA). Both are served by most major carriers or you can round trip to/from either one with a little extra drive time. We recommend flying into San Diego and out of Orange County if possible. Another option is also using a single airport that is in between both but doesn’t have a lot of flights, Carlsbad (CRQ), but that would likely be more costly.
If you would like to register for this workshop, please fill out the registration form below. (* = Required Field). A deposit of $500 is required to reserve your spot. Please refer to our workshop information section for our cancellation and refund policies.
This Itinerary Includes:
- All in-the-field instruction and a informal classroom/processing instruction
- A special presentation the night before the workshop
The Itinerary Above Does Not Include:
- Cost of lodging or meals (discounted Lodging has been arranged - confirmations will be provided upon registration and receipt of deposit.)
- Transportation throughout (we recommend renting a car throughout - we may be able to help with carpool arrangements upon request.)
